Former Halifax Mooseheads goaltender Jonathan Boutin is three wins away from winning the Kelly Cup.

The 24-year-old has backstopped the South Carolina Stingrays to the East Coast Hockey League best-of-seven final against the Alaska Aces. He has a 2.64 goals-against average, a .909 save percentage and a 12-3 record in 15 starts.

The Stingrays and Aces are tied 1-1 in the series.

Boutin, a former third-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is with the Stingrays on a minor-league contract. His three-year NHL deal with the Lightning expired last summer.

He spent parts of three seasons with the Mooseheads from 2001 to 2004, starting 47 games in 2002-03.

Ed. Note: Since this article appeared, the Stingrays won Game 3 of the series giving them a 2-1 lead and Boutin needing only 2 wins. Stingray goalie James Reimer started Game 3 instead of Boutin and backstopped the Rays to a 4-2 victory over the Aces. Boutin was traded to South Carolina on Jan 30 by the Victoria Salmon Kings for future considerations before his recent playoff tear.